Configurationless redundancy

Abstract

A method for configuring components in a computing system. A selected one of the components is designated as a primary component, the other components thereby automatically adopting a status of secondary component. The designation of the primary component is stored in a first memory that is accessible by at least one of the primary component, at least one secondary component, and the computing system. Upon occurrence of a predetermined computing system event, the first memory is read to determine the designation of the primary component. A configuration file from a second memory is automatically copied to a memory of at least one secondary component, thereby creating a new configuration file in the at least one secondary component.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for configuring redundant components having common functionality in a computing system, the method comprising the steps of:
 designating a selected one of the components as a primary component, the other components thereby automatically adopting a status of secondary component, 
 storing the designation of the primary component in a first memory that is accessible by at least one of the primary component, at least one secondary component, and the computing system, 
 storing a configuration of the primary component in a second memory, 
 upon occurrence of a predetermined computing system event, reading the second memory to retrieve the configuration of the primary component, and 
 automatically copying the configuration of the primary component to a memory of at least one secondary component, thereby creating a new configuration file in the at least one secondary component. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of designating the primary component is accomplished by at least one of:
 a. setting a jumper on the primary component, 
 b. setting a switch on the primary component, 
 c. setting a value in a location in the memory of the primary component, 
 d. selecting a designated physical connection of the computing system in which one of the components is inserted, 
 e. a user of the computing system, 
 f. selecting which of the components was inserted into the computing system first, 
 g. selecting which of the components has a desired configuration, and 
 h. removing all but one of the components and designating the one remaining component as the primary component. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event comprises powering up the computing system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event comprises insertion of an additional component. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event comprises a command issued by a user of the computing system. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event comprises a change to the configuration of the primary component. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of copying the configuration comprises copying the configuration from the primary component to the at least one secondary component across a common bus that is used by all of the components to communicate with the computing system. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of copying the configuration comprises copying the configuration from the primary component to the at least one secondary component across a dedicated communication link between all of the components. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of copying the configuration comprises copying the configuration from the primary component to a memory in the computing system and copying the configuration from the memory in the computing system to the at least one secondary component. 
     
     
       10. A second component for a computing system, the second component comprising:
 a memory for storing a configuration file, 
 a communication link for communicating with at least one of the computing system and first components in communication with the computing system, 
 a processor for searching for one of the first components to which the second component is redundant, and when such first component is found, for receiving into the memory of the second component a configuration file from the first component. 
 
     
     
       11. The second component of  claim 10 , wherein the communication link is a common bus that is used by all of the first components to communicate with the computing system. 
     
     
       12. The second component of  claim 10 , wherein the communication link a dedicated communication link between just the second component and any of the first components to which the second component is redundant. 
     
     
       13. A method for configuring components in a computing system, the method comprising the steps of:
 coping a configuration file from a first component in the computing system to a first memory that is accessible by the first component and the computing system, 
 removing the first component from the computing system, 
 inserting into the computing system a second component having similar functionality to the first component, and 
 the computing system automatically copying the configuration file from the first memory to the second component, thereby creating a new configuration file in the second component. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first component is removed from the computing system after inserting the second component into the computing system. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps of copying the configuration file comprises copying the configuration file across a common bus that is used by all of the components to communicate with the computing system. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps of copying the configuration file comprises copying the configuration file across a dedicated communication link between the first component and the second component. 
     
     
       17. A second component for a computing system, the second component comprising:
 a memory for storing a configuration file, 
 a communication link for communicating with at least one of the computing system and first components in communication with the computing system, 
 a processor for searching for a first configuration file associated with a failed one of the first components to which the second component is of a similar type and task, and when such first configuration file is found, for receiving into the memory of the second component the first configuration file. 
 
     
     
       18. The second component of  claim 17 , wherein the communication link is a common bus that is used by all of the first components to communicate with the computing system. 
     
     
       19. The second component of  claim 17 , wherein the communication link a dedicated communication link between just the second component and any of the first components to which the second component is redundant.